Reviews

Thursday, 28 June 2012

Last week I escaped the rain on a week’s holiday to Italy. I always
like to plan what I am going to read when I’m away and had been keeping Chelsea
Wives at the top of my list. I definitely was not disappointed. From the moment
we took off I had my nose in the book and did not want to put it down.

Chelsea Wives tells the story of three glamorous ladies who
lunch. There is Imogen, an ex-model and long suffering wife of Sebastian
Forbes, Calgary a former fashion editor who finds herself having to turn a
blind eye to her husband’s indiscretions far more than she wants to and Yasmin,
Lady Belmont-Jones who is not all that she seems.

Weatherley takes the reader into a world where mind
numbingly expensive shopping sprees, long leisurely lunches and glamorous photo
shoots are just everyday life. However, the ladies show that they’re more than
just a pretty face when they hatch a plan to get revenge on their scheming and
deceitful husbands.

I loved reading Chelsea Wives, it is gripping and I was
hooked from the very first page! There are some hilarious moments that will
leave you laughing out loud.

I was surprised to see that this is Weatherley’s first foray
into the world of adult fiction (she has previously written two novels for the
teenage fiction market). This is a fantastic debut novel that I would highly
recommend.

Sunday, 24 June 2012

‘Women and Children First’ is set on the Titanic and follows
the lives of four very different passengers who survive the disaster. Reg, a
young first class dining steward, Annie an Irish woman traveling in third class
with her children, Lady Juliette Mson-Parker who is pregnant and not married
and George Grayling who is travelling with his long suffering wife. We learn
about these characters before and follow their lives immediately after the
sinking on the 14th April 1912.

I have read a lot of books about the Titanic this year due
to the centenary taking place in April. However, ‘Women and Children First’
really stands out for me. Although a fictional account, Paul has filled the
novel with historical facts leaving a riveting tale to be read. The novel gives
the reader facts about what life was really like on board the doomed ship,
including what people ate and what they did to keep themselves busy. This,
intertwined with the fictional tale of the characters creates a heart
wrenching, un-putdownable book.

The chapters alternate between each of the characters
allowing the reader to feel that they know each of them. There are a lot of
twists and turns in the plot of each person, but I found this easy to read and
did not feel overwhelmed with information. We see in great detail, the effects
that being on the Titanic had on each person and how it changes their lives.

This is a mesmerizing, fascinating and thought provoking
read, ‘Women and Children First’ is an outstanding debut and I am looking
forward to reading more from Gill Paul. Highly recommended.

Saturday, 2 June 2012

The Penny
Bangle is the third book in a trilogy about the Denham family. Despite being a
trilogy, each book also reads very well as a stand alone novel.

The story
follows nineteen year old Cassie who leaves her terraced Birmingham
street in 1942 to go to Dorset as a land girl.
It is a huge change for Cassie, but in a short time she learns to love the
countryside. Romance begins to blossom between Cassie and Robert Denham, but he
is soon sent off to fight in North Africa.
Cassie feels restless and signs up to the ATS where she is posted to Egypt.

When Robert
is reported missing in action, Cassie cannot believe it. As time goes by she
finds herself becoming to closer to Robert’s twin brother Stephen, but will he ever
replace Robert and will Robert return?

I was
looking forward to reading The Penny Bangle after having read The Silver Locket
a few months ago. James’ writing is so vivid that the scenes and characters
described really come to life. I also really liked Cassie as a heroine, she is
very determined and strong willed. I felt that she grew a lot, as a person, as
the novel progressed. The plot itself is engaging and takes the reader from
rural Dorset to war torn London, Italy and Egypt. As with all Choc Lit books,
both hero and heroine have a strong voice so we get to hear Robert’s side of
the story too.

This is the
second novel that I have read by Margaret James and I loved it. It is quite
fast paced and I found that I just wanted to keep on reading. Highly
recommended.

About Me

Book reviews by Sarah and Liz.
We review fiction and some non fiction. Genres of interest include historical, romance, crime and thrillers. If you would like us to review a book please contact us on: todayimreading@hotmail.co.uk